The Hindu : Kerala News : LDF Government against private varsities: Baby

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Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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Kerala

LDF Government against private varsities: Baby

Special Correspondent

Says LDF has taken an unambiguous policy decision
‘Higher Education Council not to affect autonomy’

Education Minister M.A. Baby

Thiruvananthapuram: Education Minister M.A. Baby has categorically ruled out the question of permitting private universities in the State.

Replying to a debate on the Kerala State Higher Education Council Bill as reported by the Subject Committee on Tuesday, he said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had taken an unambiguous policy decision on the issue.

Mr. Baby strongly refuted the Opposition allegation that the Higher Education Council (HEC) would undermine the autonomy of universities in the State. The Opposition members, led by G. Karthikeyan, M. Murali, A.P. Anil Kumar, V.D. Satheesan and P.C. Vishnunath, maintained their apprehensions about some of the provisions in the Bill, besides doubting the “hidden agenda” of the CPI (M) which was controlling the Education Department. They contended that several of the provisions were sugar coated and the Minister had failed to convince them.

He said the strength of the governing council had been limited to 27 when compared to the HECs of other States. Kerala had gone one step further by inducting representatives of local bodies, the Assembly and Parliament members from the State in the advisory council. Opposition members, speaking on the dissent note they had submitted on the Bill, criticised the Government for setting up a “jumbo council.” They alleged that the CPI(M) had packed the council with its supporters, with the hidden agenda of controlling the State’s universities.

Mr. Baby, while giving a point-by-point reply, said the Government had inducted into the council eminent persons from all walks of life. They included U.R. Ananthamurthy, N. Ram, and Kris Gopalakrishnan of Infosys.

Congress Deputy Leader G. Karthikeyan intervened at this point and said no one would doubt Mr. Ram’s credentials and his contributions. He referred to his politics during his student days and the fact that he was once “president” of the Students Federation of Indian.

Mr. Baby, after correcting Mr. Karthikeyan by stating that Mr. Ram was vice-president of the SFI, said the Government had not taken this fact into consideration while nominating him. Mr. Ram’s contributions to society were well known and the Government gave considerable thought before nominating him, he said. “I don’t see any obstacle in the nomination of Mr. Ram, on whom the nation has conferred the Padma Bhushan award,” the Minister said.

The Government had brought in Kris Gopalakrishnan as the industry representative in place of N.R. Narayana Murthy. This decision was also taken after considerable thought. Mr. Murthy was an SFI leader during his student days. Therefore, the Government did not want to lay itself open to a charge that he was selected for his SFI connection.

The Minister said he had suggested quite a few oral amendments when the Bill was discussed in the Subjects Committee. These were mainly related to the use of certain words that could be interpreted as a CPI(M) attempt to wrest control of universities.

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